Ken Kimery, Executive Director of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra and Jazz Oral History Program at the Smithsonian Institute in Washington joins Marty Ashby for an exploration of jazz influences and innovators.

The MCG Jazz Spotlight Hour - Friday and Sunday night at 6, Saturday afternoon at 1 on WZUM

Bill Strickland shares his good wishes from the recent MCG Jazz Legends Induction event. We also visited with Don Aliquo Jr, Max Leake, Lou Stellute, George Jones, Anton DeFade, Jim Guerra, Rich Zabinski, Dwayne Dolphin, Kenny Blake, Chuck Spatafore, and a delightful interaction between Scott Hanley, Roger Humphries and Michele Bensen.

Plus, more of our visit with Ben Jaffe, the Tuba/Bass playing leader of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band of New Orleans, visiting Pittsburgh on October 30 after a trip to Cuba that changed Everything.

Thursday at 6pm, Friday and Saturday at noon and Sunday at 5.

Early in October, MCG Jazz celebrated RADical Days with a special live recording of the MCG Jazz Spotlight Hour with Marty Ashby and recently inducted Pittsburgh Jazz Legend, pianist Max Leake. This is that show!

Max plays music favorites, and also performs a few numbers on the Steinway grand piano that was used for many years by pianist Johnny Costa for the iconic PBS show (made in Pittsburgh), Mister Rogers Neighborhood.

The MCG Jazz Spotlight Hour - Friday and Sunday night at 6, Saturday afternoon at 1 on WZUM!

A visit with Ben Jaffe, the Tuba/Bass playing leader of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band of New Orleans, visiting Pittsburgh on October 30 after a trip to Cuba that changed Everything

We also talked with the new Chair of Jazz Studies at the University of Pittsburgh, Nicole Mitchell - with exciting new plans and an extra concert for the 49th Annual Pitt Jazz Seminar and Concert, including the multi-talented Amina Claudine-Myers.

Bill Strickland shares his good wishes from the recent MCG Jazz Legends Induction event.

Thursday at 6pm, Friday and Saturday at noon and Sunday at 5.

Scott Hanley was in New York this week back in January 2019 for the Jazz Congress at Jazz at Lincoln Center for this 2nd annual convening of the jazz community. Many highlights, including the centennial celebration of Pittsburgh’s Art Blakey.

On the radio, Friday at 1pm

Marty Ashby and Renée Govanucci share stories and wonderful music from Opie Bellas, Paquito D’Rivera, Steve Rudolph, Flavio Chamis, Hendrik Meurkens, Jim Hall and Pat Metheny, Martin Taylor, Monty Alexander and more!

All great company on WZUM from the MCG Jazz Spotlight Hour - Friday and Sunday night at 6, Saturday afternoon at 1 on WZUM!

Pianist, Composer and Author Deanna Witkowski has been on an interesting musical and life journey that has included classical and religious music, plus quite a bit of jazz. Dr. Billy Taylor led her to learn more about Mary Lou Williams - and learning more about Mary Lou has brought her to Pittsburgh.

We had a long chat in Morningside this week, and Deanna shared stories of music, discovery and Mary Lou. Hear it and music of Deanna Witkowski on WZUM’s The Scene. Thursday at 6pm, Friday and Saturday at noon and Sunday at 5.

Friday night and Sunday night at 6, Saturday afternoon at 1 on WZUM, Marty Ashby, VP & Executive Producer of MCG Jazz is joined by saxophonist, educator, composer and arranger Mike Tomaro.

As a saxophonist and composer/arranger, Tomaro has a vast range of influences, We’ll hear sounds from Michael Brecker, Bill Evans (with Toots Thielemans), Wayne Shorter, the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra and more. Plus, one of Mike’s own charts with the Army Blues Jazz Ensemble.